It's not a Big Top, it's a Grand Chapiteau, and it's not just any circus that will return to Hartford, Connecticut, this summer, it's Cirque Du Soleil!
The avant-garde traveling circus founded in Canada in 1984 has impressed worldwide audiences with its mix of circus acts and street performances, amazing acrobatics, colorful costumes and dazzling lights and music. In 2003, Cirque du Soleil made its Hartford debut with "Dralion," and in 2010, the troupe returns to Connecticut's capital city for the fourth time with its latest touring production, the insect-themed "OVO."
"OVO" features more than 50 artists and acrobats from 16 countries. According to a release, "'OVO' is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day, the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew."
The traveling production of "OVO," which debuted in Montreal in 2009, is the 25th Cirque du Soleil production in 25 years.
Past Cirque du Soleil performances have been wildly popular in Hartford, and you won't want to miss the opportunity to see Cirque Du Soleil during its limited engagement in New England. Here's everything you need to know to get tickets and see the show:
Dates: June 17-July 11, 2010
Performance Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 and 5 p.m.
Location: Under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau on Market Street in Hartford, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the intersection of I-84 and I-91.
Ticket Prices: Prices range from $45 to $125 for adults and from $31.50 to $87.50 for children.
Be a VIP: The Tapis Rouge VIP experience includes one of the best seats in the house and access to the exclusive Tapis Rouge suite one hour prior to show time. The cost is $250 for adults and $175 for children ages 2 to 12.
Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at the Cirque Du Soleil Web site, or purchase tickets by phone by calling toll free, 800-450-1480. Note that additional charges apply to phone orders. Tickets for all performances through July 4 went on sale to the public on April 11, 2010. Tickets for shows added July 7-11 will go on sale to the general public on Sunday, June 6, or, join the Cirque Club (it's free) for pre-sale access to tickets for these final performances.
Group Reservations: Call toll free, 866-6CIRQUE, for discount pricing and reservations for groups.
